I just received a beautiful Bamboo fly rod last night. I was asked to put guides on it. The rod is 9' long approx 3-4wt. What type of guides, How many and what size. also there is a place just below the tip about 3" that appears to have been crushed. Is there any way to fix this or do I just cut it off and apply a new tip. Thanks Scott

Hard to say, really. Some really old ones used ring and clasp, although those are more common on the older solid wood rods.

Does the owner want it repaired/restored like new? Or just fixed up to fish with?

Some "crushed" areas can be repaired. New tip sections can be scarfed on. You could be running into some real money with some of these fixes, however.

If he just wants it to fish or hang on the wall, and it doesn't appear to be something of any real monetary value, you could probably just cut the tip back and put a top on it. Crude but maybe good enough for what he's wanting.

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Cabelas usewd to sell some hopkins and holloway guides that are really nice nickel silver that would be the only thing i would put on a bamboo rod. If you're going to spend the money on either having one built or having one repaired spend it well and put some good guides....it'd be like repainting a '65 mustang with spray paint. Just a thought.

I wish I had seen this earlier so I am sorry for the late posting. It is best not to snip the tip down. Splicing or scarfing takes some skill and you should get plenty of practice before applying the technique to a customer's rod. The easiest and perhaps the best way to fix the tip section is to very meticulously place sewing needles under every single splinter. You need to lift every single one, like each piece belongs to a puzzle that you are putting togethers. Very gently get plenty of Elmers wood glue in between all of those splinters. Then you need to remove the needles and bind this down tight with a strong thread. Most bamboo rod makers use kite string, but any strong, thin string will do. Let it dry for 24 hours before removing the string. If any of it is stuck to the rod you must very, very gently sand this away making sure not to remove any of the surface of the bamboo. Once the rod is clean again use white silk and generously wrap this area. Once the varnish is on the white silk it will turn transparent. It will be completely fishable again and you would be surprised just how strong of a repair this method is. Everette Garrison shows it in his book by Hoagy Carmichael.